Subtle Bodies

The subtle bodies are also considered as some sort of a support system for our physical body and for our consciousness. They are the means for inspiration, knowledge, action, power and expression. They are the bridges that allow us to transcend our self and become Divine. This is done through the Alchemical process and the development of our three different levels of consciousness that we call the Physical, Cosmic and Divine Planes.

The Physical Plane is the first stage of Alchemy. It is the development of the physical body, as well as 1st, 2nd and 3rd subtle bodies that we call Etheric, Astral and Soul respectively. The Physical plane is also called the Shiny Black Phase and the first Alchemical Body. This is when we start to be awakened; just to be aware is not enough.

The Cosmic Plane is the second stage of Alchemy. It is the development of the 4th, 5th and 6thsubtle bodies that we call Spirit, Atma and Cosmic. The Cosmic Plane is also called the Shiny White Phase and the Alchemical Soul. This is when we radiate spiritually and we enter the early stages of Enlightenment.

The Divine Plane is the third stage of Alchemy. It is the development of the 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th subtle bodies that we call Light Body Yin, Light Body Yang, Divine Body Yin and Divine Body Yang. The Divine Plane is also called the Shinny Red Phase and the Alchemical Spirit. At the end of this stage, we do an Alchemical Marriage of the Body, Soul and Spirit, unifying these three consciousnesses into a single Divine consciousness. That is when we become enlightened and the creator of our destiny.

There are some other subtle bodies that exist above the 10th Divine Body Yang that I call “Dimensions Beyond Enlightenment”. I might write about these dimensions in the future.

Following are some of the characteristics of the 10 subtle bodies. Please note that there are different schools of thought, coming from different historical and cultural affiliations, which have different names for the same subtle bodies, and often use the same name for different bodies. That’s why I used numbers to eliminate confusion.

Layer 1. It’s called the Etheric Body. This layer, envelopes the physical body and we could call it the life force that makes us alive and more than just a biological robot. Getting cut off from this layer means biological death. The polarity of this layer is Yin and its color, when healthy, varies from a very pale silvery blue to an electric blue. Every school of thought uses the same word Etheric for this layer.

Layer 2. It’s called the Astral Body. This layer envelopes the Etheric Body. The energy of this body is not only part of the life force, but also the energy that make us humans. This energy is necessary for all the functions of the brain and the nervous system. Most of the functions we identify with the brain depend on it. Getting cut off from this energy would make a person a total idiot. The polarity of this layer is Yang and its color, when healthy, is like a perfect lit up blue sapphire. Every school of thought uses the same word Astral for this layer.

Layer 3. It’s called the Soul Body. This layer envelopes the Astral Body. The energy of this body manages and creates the desire for self-realization and also a spiritual life. It also accomplishes our higher judgment functions, which we use to direct our lives.

The Soul, Astral and the Etheric subtle bodies together with the physical body are the first group body that allows the development of the Alchemical Body that is called also the Shiny Black Phase or the Physical Plane. After the death of the physical body the first three subtle bodies die also, this means every time we incarnate we would have to build these bodies all over again. The polarity of this layer is Yin and its color, when healthy, varies from a pure lighted ruby to a paler pinkish red. Other schools of thought call the Soul body the mental, causal or emotional.

Layer 4. It’s called the Spirit Body. This layer envelopes the Soul Body. Depending on our level of consciousness this body may or may not be part of our immortal self. If not part of our immortal self we recreate one for each incarnation. This is the case of the majority of human beings. The difference with the Soul body is that is recreated in each life from the lower levels (i.e. from the physical, etheric and astral bodies, in a bottom-up movement). While the Spirit Body, is recreated for each incarnation from the upper Cosmic Body.

The Spirit Body together with the two upper layers the 5th Atmic and the 6th Cosmic, are the second group body that allows the development of the Alchemical Soul that is called the Shiny White Phase or the Cosmic Plane. This body is also the seat of all acquired talents and know-how and knowledge that we might recover from past lives into this one. It is also the source of all personal power and ultimately of any creative function we might have. This explains why people who have been incarnated with this body already developed have no difficulty manifesting their inspirations and achieving self-realization.

The polarity of this layer is Yang and its color when healthy, is like a lighted up pale emerald. Other schools of thought call the Spirit Body the mental, causal, buddhic, or spiritual.

Layer 5. It’s called the Atma Body. This layer envelopes the Spirit Body. This body contains the memories of past lives and it is the seat of Karma and Dharma and the inner energetic eyes. When this body is fully developed it indicates that the person has reached a certain level of consciousness and power.

The polarity of this layer is Yin and its color, when healthy, is like a perfect lighted up purple amethyst. Other schools of thought call the Atma Body the buddhic, atmic or spiritual.

Layer 6. It’s called the Cosmic Body. This layer envelopes the Atma Body. This body carries our immortal consciousness of Self from one life to another. This layer is so important that it is also the source of the higher layers that usually do not exist in a given individual. The higher layers are the product of hard spiritual work in many lives. The Cosmic Body is the center of our Divine Self and it’s the door to our individual potential for becoming Divine.

The polarity of this layer is Yang and its color, when healthy, is like a melted gold, more or less pale depending on the person. Other schools of thought call the Cosmic Body the atmic, divine, buddhic or brahmic.

Layer 7. It’s called the Light Body Yin. This layer envelopes the Cosmic Body. This Body is build by the Cosmic Body bottom up, but once it’s built doesn’t die with each incarnation. It’s carried from one life to the next. This Body together with the 8th, 9th and the 10th bodies are the third group body that allows the development of the Alchemical Spirit that is called the Shiny Red Phase or the Divine Plane. This body puts one in direct contact with the world of Divine Archetypes, what the ancients called “Gods” higher that Angels and Archangels. From this level upward all bodies are tied to archetypal geometrical forms. Here the basic geometry is based on the tetrahedron (doubled).

The polarity of this layer is Yin and its color, when healthy, is like melted silver, more or less pale depending on the person. Other schools of thought call the Light Body Yin the divine, buddhic, brahmic or the light.

Layer 8. It’s called the Light Body Yang. This layer envelopes the Light Body Yin. Once this body exists and is actually working one can truly say: “I’m truly the maker of my destiny, in this life and the next.” This body is the second step of the development of the Alchemical Spirit. It permits the access to using higher energy in this life for advanced healing, to raise consciousness and to change the course of destiny. Its basic geometry is based on the dodecahedron (a 12 sided 3D shape).

The polarity of this layer is Yang and its color, when healthy, is Orange-Pink, more or less pale depending on the people. Other schools of thought call this Light Body Yang the divine, brahmic or the light.